[nagdu] ownership

Criminal Justice Major orleans24 at comcast.net
Fri Nov 23 18:47:03 UTC 2012


Hi, all,
Despite that my retired guide/now medical alert service dog Odie was trained at Pilot Dogs, I have full ownership of him.
The executive director wanted me to keep him rather than me having him go back to the school because he would have become very depressed which the executive director didn't want that happening.
If you aren't able to keep your dog, are willing to take he/she back and to have the puppy raiser be reunited with him/her.
If the puppy raiser isn't able to do so, they will find other adoptive homes.
When I signed the agreement twice, I asked the trainer to go over it slowly and clear so I was sure that I heard everything.
Yes, I've had times when I wouldn't get a returned phone call immediately, but it was my responsibility to keep at it.
Pilot will contact their grads if they receive or get called-in complaints of possible abuse on a dog.
Another Pilot grad on another guide dog related list I am on related an incident of where someone claimed she was abusing her guide dog just because when she would have to leash correct and the leash accidentally got the dog on the head, she was reported.
That handler expressed how she felt and was angry which I didn't blame her either.
I gave her the suggestion of sliding her hand further down the leash toward the clasp that would be connected to the training collar and correct with her leash carefully.
Upon giving her that suggestion, I reassured her if she tried going that route, it wouldn't look like she was hurting her dog.
Needless to say, she hasn't been bothered or harassed.
Although Pilot Dogs may not be for some, other schools may be the right one.
I figure the best thing to do is research all guide dog schools before making that final decision.
While one may not meet your needs, another one would.
I went to Pilot for personal reasoning and was happy with the training and found some of the staff to be very understanding and supportive where at the first guide dog school I attended, I didn't find the experience satisfying.
I'd happily go back to the school I got Odie from, but they don't have a wheelchair guide dog training program, so I'm left with the possibility of having to switch schools.
I know people may not agree with me here because of my views, but everyone's views are different from mine.
Sometimes when I make statements via email, I may not realize or be aware that I'm coming across harsh or rough.
I'm trying my best to be more careful of that and it will take time for me to continue working on that.
*Smiles*
I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving yesterday.
Can't believe Christmas is around the corner and I'm not ready for my birthday which appears on that day.
Oh well. I still was the best Christmas present for my mom though.
Odie was the best gift for me, being my eyes and a great worker, even when he went up and beyond his duties to do more, not just for me, but my husband and others.
Bibi, husband Dale and son Odie
the happy spirited bounty labrawolf


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